Anxious over continued slashes in the education budget, the Greek Confederation of Teachers has sent a letter – which condemned goverment policies – to Interior Minister Evripidis Stylianidis, asking for a meeting to talk about what the union said are deteriorating conditions in the schools.
Labor leaders said teachers, whose pay has been cut 30 percent or more during a crushing economic crisis, are finding it hard to meet their expenses and that physical conditions in the schools are worsening because of maintenance cutbacks, and that even heating oil is being limited.
Schools are funded through municipalities. Last year they received half of the amount for fuel in February but never got the rest in April as was due. The Confederation also reminded that last year school budgets were cut 33% and a 50% hike in fuel oil costs has further depleted their budget. It is asking for an increase in educational spending to 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or 15% of the government budget.
The union stated that only 200 new teachers were hired last year even though some 2,000 teachers retired, a 1-to-10 ratio that is twice as tough as that demanded by international lenders providing Greece with rescue loans, who recommended one hiring for every five departures. The letter added that Greece is crushing the spirit of workers and that the union will continue to fight cuts in educational spending.
(Source: tvxs.gr)
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